The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-09-13
oLAosToNs's CONDEMNATION.
The Ennis Riot Discussed In the
House Of Commons.
sir william Vernon Harcourt Asks
Some Difficult Questions.
BaIfour Attempts Justification by Re-
calling CIadstone's Ministry.

oOUo DltttChtt QuoStioUo'
BaIfour Attempts justification by Re-
calling CIadstone's Ministry.
LONDON. Sept. 12-Sir William Vernon
Harcourt, in the Commons this afternoon, on
motion that the House go into a committee
on the appropriation bill, called attention to
the general policy of the government in Ire
land, and especially tc the invasion of the
rights respecting the holding of public meet
ings. He demanded that the House be in
formed Of the nature OF the instructions
given to the police in Ireland regarding the
line of action they are to pursue with respect
to public meetings. Also, whether the report
Is true that Gen. Sir Redvers Butler has re-
signed the post Of Under Secretary of Ire
land, and what were the reasons for his res
ignatlon. Sir William claimed that the Irish
possessed, in common with the English, the
rignt to meet and denounce the action of the
legislative branch of the government. He
declared that the attempts to prevent the
holding OF meetings, violated the common
grant breach and denial of the fundamental
principles of both. These attempts were
wholly incompatible with the existence of
free government or the rights Of free peo-
machine guns ought to be used against tie
Irish.
Cries of "What paper?"
"St. James Gazette" answered the speak
er: adding, the typical Tory organ. The
used by the Times" Sir William went on,
for the express purpose Of driving the Irish
to revolt. The language is such as has
never before degraded the press of free
country. IL the advice of the Unionist press
had hQan f0llOWQd bof hafx
ugns,. evictions and Tory landlords, soon
very few Of the Irish people would be left"
Sir William was confident that the Irish
would persist in the prudence and calmness
was dear to the English it was the right OF
public meeting. which the government was
now trampling upon. Let the government
try the experiment OF their new doctrines
upon the people Of England. The country
would make short work of them. The heart
Of England was with the Irish, in vindicat-
ing the rights Of public meeting, and would
support them until justice be done. Meet
ings must continue to be held In all parts of
Ireland. Parnellite cheers.) II there was
more than an another, 1t was that the cause
which could n OF bear discussion was already
lost. [Cheers. The governments dread Of
public meetings would seal their Irish pol
Mr.. BaIfour's Reply.
Mr.. Balfour said that the instructions to
the police were the same as they had receiv-
ed when Sir William was a member Of the
Gladstone government. ICheers.l Gen.
Butler always acted in perfect harmony with
the present government. His appointment
as under secretary was only temporary and
he resigned now simply because he desired
not to delay his return to the war office.
[Cries Of "Oh," ""Oh," from Parnellitesl II
any one supposed Gen. Buffers retirement
was due in the slightest degree to differ
ence Of opinion with him the supposition
Was absolutely false: Referring to Sir VIII.
public meetings was illegal Mr.. Balfour
said he did not know at what period Sir VIII
liam lost his knowledge of law, but it was
matter of history that under the common
law in Ireland, Sir William, himself, acted
with Messrs. Gladstone and Forster in pro-
claiming 100 meetings lCheersl II was
again and again stated when these meetings
were proclaimed that the act Of 1882 did not
contain any new powers. The question
really was not whether the governments
action was legal but whether Il was polite.
An important element to consider was the
condition of the district Of Ennis, a notori-
GUS centre OF agrarlan crime. 1t was alb
surd to describe such meetings as for free
of an inaammatnry n.tn-e u was ehvia-siy
their object to defeat the law and to foster
outrageous luLlfuludLiOn. III 0du Decn
clearly ascertained that the action Of the
police at Mitchellstown was in the face of
extreme provocation. lCries Of "Ohl Ohpl
The police were assaulted with stones and
blacRthOr1 sticks befoSe they drew their
Hearp'l Not until they were thrown into
disorder by charge Of horsemen, which
knocked down and wounded q number and
forced the rest to fly for their lives, did the
police find 1t absolutely necessary for
fn fpn 20 khr. 49, L.
and the unfortunate police stragglers
outside. [Cries of "Ohl Obi" and cheers. I
The firing was not the random firing of men
In panic, but deliberate act under the or
der Of the commanding officer. He main
tanned that the conduct of the police was
amply justified. They were in no way to
blame, the sole responsibility resting upon
those who convoked the meeting. ICheersl.
Sir William had on his lips the words lib
erty, justice and free speech, but the actual
weapons he and his friends used in the Irish
contest were obstruction in Parliament and
resistance to law outside, with violence and
intimidation worse than violence [Cheers.l
Did the opposition mean to further infiame
the passions of the Irish, driving them into
resistance to the law Of liberty founded upon
the order that was once dear to both parties
in the State? He appealed to them to have
regard for the community, Iwhose lives and
properties were the counters with which Sir
William was playing political game.
lCheersl, The government did not wayer in
their policy. They would perseyere in the
course that must end in the Cancellation of
Ireland. lCheers.l
What Labouchere Saw.
Mr.. Labouchere said he saw all that oc-
CURED at Mitchellstown. Stringent orders
were given the people by their leaders to
avoid any disturbance when they assembled
in the market place. MIR. Dillon advised that
the proceedings be as short as possible with
view to avoiding disorder No objection
to the presence Of the government reporter
was made, but the police could not force him
through the densely packed crowd. They
were driven back upon the reserve and then
| advanced to assault the crowd. The affray
was begun by aconstable drawing his sword
and wounding horse. There were not at
| any moment more than fifty people fighting
| the police There were women and children
| in the crowd. The men had a perfect right
| to resist the attack. When the police fired
| there was no danger Of any being attacked,
| either inside or outside the barracks. The
| police behaved like wild beasts, battering
| the people without mercy. Their chief
showed a deliberate intention to break up
| the meeting. Mr.. Labouchere held the chief
| constable and resident magistrate respous-
ible and accused them Of deliberate murder
| tCheers.
Mr.. Ciadstone's Speech.
| Mr.. Gladstone, on rising was loudly an
| pluded. He said the natural debate should
be mainly directed to the Mitchellstown out
rage. Sir William Vernon Harcourt had
| performed public service in drawing atten.
ton to the Ennis meeting. Mr.. Balfour de
clared the government would persevere In
Its endeavor to tranquilize Ireland by firm
administration of law and by removal, mot Of
grievances for there none. [Laughterl.
| Balfour interposed; Injustice was IN,
| word"
/ Mr.. Gladstone said he was much obliged
He saw no difference, but it was best to b,
verbally correct. Resumlng. Mr.. Gladston,
| protested against Mr.. Balfour's statemen
that he expected only hostility from the Op
position. Whenever anything beneficial Il
Ireland was proposed, the oppesion hailed i
with pleasure and did everything possible Il
further it, despite the unwise policy of coer
cion, calculated to destroy social order, tn,
| opposition had enjoined upon the Irish strici
obedience to law. Their advice was mor
effective In procuring obedience than all TIN
force of the governments coercion and con
stabulary as managed at Mitchellstown.
Mr.. Balfour had met Harcourt's speecl
with the simple tEQuoQue, which was thu
usual resort Of persons in difficult positions